Final Fantasy Explorers Will Have Advanced Moves For Skilled Action Gamers

Final Fantasy Explorers director Atsushi Hashimoto and project manager Takahiro Abe recently shared more about the game’s job system. In the same interview with Famitsu, they also talked about befriending monsters, the game’s difficulty, and the game’s world.

When it comes to hunting-style games, fans love a challenge that reward players with nice loot, but at the same time, the difficulty can also be intimidating for newcomers. Famitsu asks the developers to talk about the difficulty behind the action of Final Fantasy Explorers.

“I’d like to make [the game] into something that even those who aren’t the best at action games can enjoy,” says Hashimoto. “There will also be things like specific actions that can be used to cancel abilities, and other technical maneuvers for those who are confident in their skills to enjoy.”

“Think of it as something that has the strategic nature of an RPG, together with a focus on combining jobs and abilities that just about anyone can enjoy,” adds Abe. “Of course, we also plan on adding high difficulty quests that will have you going, ‘is this even possible to clear?’ So people who excel at action games will have plenty to look forward to.”

Abe continues, “Additionally, there will be a way to adjust quest difficulty, so those who think ‘this isn’t enough!’ can easily adjust the difficulty to their liking.”

Hashimoto and Abe also briefly talk about the “Resonance System,” which is basically a system that lets players perform cooperative moves using abilities, which can make them into different and more powerful abilities.

This might sound like regular cooperative attacks to hit nearby enemies, but Abe explains that Final Fantasy Explorers is set on an island with all kinds of different areas that can be fully explored, so the Resonance System is being made so it can be used from a distance.

According to Abe, this means players can continue exploring and go out to fields that are quite a distance away from other players, so they made the Resonance System to make it possible for players to interact with one another using cooperative abilities that can be used from quite a distance.

Famitsu mentions that it sounds pretty close to what you’d expect from an open-world game, and that might make it troublesome for players to get around.

To this, Hashimoto says that the development team is currently working on a system for that very purpose. Abe laughs, and teases, “When it comes to Final Fantasy… airships come to mind.”

While on the subject of transportation, the developers also mention that Chocobos won’t be rideable this time around, but they will appear as monsters that can be recruited. In order to recruit monsters, you must defeat them and obtain a special item drop. Once you have this item, you can take it back to town and have that monster born from it.

The monsters can be collected, and raised as well. As far as monster variety goes, the more powerful and rare the monster is, the tougher they will be to acquire, so it’ll add some excitement once you finally get the rare monsters you’ve been eyeing.

During the interview, Famitsu also asks if there are event scenes that will show off parts of the story during the game.

“Yes, there’s a main story. Once you make your character, it’ll be your avatar that you’ll play as, but we’re not pushing for the story to have as much emotional involvement compared to the main numbered series,” explains Hashimoto.

He continues, “However, the game goes beyond the island that is the setting of the game, and there is a setting for the whole world, with quest content and NPCs with different speaking mannerisms to show for it.”

“[As you play] you might think ‘there are these kind of characters, so it must be this kind of country?’ or ‘the weapon description says this and that, so maybe it was used by someone in the past?’ This might sound typical of an old game, but I want it to be something that works your imagination.”

Final Fantasy Explorers is in development for Nintendo 3DS.

Food for thought:

1. Since the story revolves around taking out different Summons, you might be wondering how that affects the Summoner class. In Final Fantasy Explorers, there will be a different system that involves using the power of the Summons, instead.

2. Before you get too excited by the prospect of airships in the game, note that they could simply be a form of quick travel.

sounds pretty awesome. :x based off the current information i’m excited. cant wait to see some videos though

http://www.siliconera.com/ Ishaan

Just to clarify, we’re 90% sure that when Hashimoto says “specific actions that can be used to cancel abilities,” he’s talking about some form of move-cancelling.

We haven’t seen gameplay footage yet, which is why Sato and I decided to refrain from calling it that, but man… I need this game, like, yesterday. We haven’t had a good Final Fantasy action game since Dissidia.

Crevox

My expectations are now high and I am hyped

Ciethe

This interview just skyrocketed me from uncaring to unbelievably excited! An open world free-roamish Monster Hunter with magic? Yes please! And I feel like the Summoner class might end up being able to use the enemies and summons that you collect from defeating them to battle with you. Mini Shiva pet summon? Diamond Dusting all day? H’oh yeah.

http://blackstar2661.deviantart.com/ SilverSpades

Damn, at this point I only want two things.

1. Gameplay video.
2. Localization.

Warboss Aohd

1. Final Fantasy
2. 3DS

seems fairly likely.

http://blackstar2661.deviantart.com/ SilverSpades

I know, just that nothing beats a cold hard confirmation!

Kornelious

I want to see some gameplay as well, And they already filed a trademark in the West for it so i’m sure we have nothing to worry about :)

Warboss Aohd

monster recruitment?

ok, you have my attention.

Kornelious

This is looking to be quite the in-depth Final Fantasy experience for a spin-off title. I’m glad they have some nice action elements, that will make the grinding that I’m sure I will have to do a little more fun :)

It seems like it’s already taking the Monster Hunter setting too….Y’know the whole “Town that is small, insignificant, or different compared to the big Imperial city or Mainland that you never get to see” :P

I just really want to see some gameplay because no matter how much info I’m given I can’t seem to picture it in my head yet……. -_-

http://oneweakness.com/ PRIZZA

Did they just inadvertently confirm Summoner job?

Gemlit

They sure did. Or they could have been prepared in the first place to reveal it.

http://oneweakness.com/ PRIZZA

Right, but it was just weird that it was only in the “Food for thought” section. Happy regardless!

krauserII

this remind me of ff crystal chronicle

Syntheril

Let’s just hope it’s a new crystal chronicles-like game

http://www.siliconera.com/ Ishaan

This is nothing like Crystal Chronicles, I’m afraid. It sounds very much like Final Fantasy + Monster Hunter.

gamebabble

…which COULD potentially be like Crystal Chronicles.

I mean a LOT of “Monster Hunter Clones” are NOTHING like Monster Hunter and this looks to be more of that. I.E. it looks like it has random normal enemies that you actually WANT to fight. Though I could be judging pre-emptively.

…yeah I’m weird. I love Monster Hunter clones but hate Monster Hunter so this kind of stuff stands out to me.

k.b.a.

Or not

ShadowDivz

Same. But i would like another CC game, just like the one on gamecube.

DanijoEX ♬ the Cosmic Owl

I do hope that this will make it to N.America and Europe in time. I’m really dying for a good RPG for my 3ds.

SuperSailorV

I could say Bravely Default sated my hunger for a good 3DS RPG, but this is definitely going to fulfill my hope for an action/adventure/rpg type co-operative multiplayer. lol. Like FFCC!

HarakiriKami

Personally I have too many 3DS rpgs.

new_tradition

I really hope this game was fully designed to account for the 3DS controls. I know some people have bought Circle-Pro(?) for a few action-heavy games on the system, but I hope Explorers is limited in that sense.

Lack of emotional involvement is an interesting thing to divulge. I admit I put a lot of weight on game story as part of over-all enjoyment, but at the very least the game has some sort of campaign mode. I’m curious how many side quests there are…

I never took to Monster Hunter, but I liked Gods Eater Burst and I am interested in Freedom Wars, so I think I’ll like a similar game with the FF flair to it ^^

k.b.a.

I can do either but I did prefer mh over ge. I suppose because the story was presented to me in such a ‘so anime’ way and that turns me off these days. Does that make any sense? Not trying to offend anyone

natchu96

Anime-esque really isn’t for everyone. No biggie.

I personally like the style, but I grew up in Asia so no surprise *shrugs*. Very cliche-ridden, no kidding, but the art style does have a certain charm for some people. Before realistic animation was as good as it is now it’s much easier to make things look good when they’re slightly cartoony too.

HarakiriKami

I really like how things evolved for monhun with monhun 4. Better narrative too

HarakiriKami

No game really requires dual analog, monhun doesnt even need it and monhun 4 is even better

J_Joestar

i think it is just a different type of game they are shooting for, maybe focusing less on the typical FF drama and philosophy talks and more on the co-operative gameplay elements.

Kroz

I’m so on the fence about this game. the last game with the words final fantasy I cared about was Dissidia and Type-0….This sounds promising but would loved to see some gameplay, show a teaser anything.

http://www.siliconera.com/ Ishaan

Out of curiosity, have you played Type-0?

Skeptika Crediblus

Has anyone?

http://www.siliconera.com/ Ishaan

Most haven’t, and I suspect they’re in for a nasty shock when the game is finally localized, unless Square makes some serious changes to the design and writing.

Skeptika Crediblus

Oh? Does it suck? What’s the 411?

HarakiriKami

Erm, Kind of?

After all the Last Guardian/Half life 3 levels of hype its gonna suck even more.

Personally I thought revenant wings was better and that’s kinda mediocre even if the game has a really cool visual style.

ShadowDivz

Personally i love it, i love the whole war theme it’s got going on. And you have alot of characters to choose from.

To be fair those characters a cliches to T. Queen is the typical school prefect/student council who pushes up glasses and likes no dawdling. Nine is like the typical gang leader, but all in all, i enjoy them alot more than the cast of 13.

The gameplay is similar to KH, and i actually like that in towns you can TALK to NPCs, but in 13(assuming you even realize you ARE in a town, because i didn’t) you just eavesdrop.

Some people like Ishaan don’t believe it’s teh godsend people make it out to be(isn’t it that way for everything?) But i personally love it.

Kroz

I have played a bit of type-0 and have liked it so far. Stopped to wait and enjoy the official localization. Why is there something bad or game breaking that I just didn’t run into yet?

natchu96

How much does it suck? (or not suck?)

I’m not sure if my PSP still functions very well (that old 1000 model :3), but I can try to get it working for a little while longer. It should still be kicking. Kinda.

I mean, the complaint about Final Fantasy XIII was that it’s a very linear game and Type-0 is actually not all that different in some ways. A lot of the areas you’ll “explore” are just straight pathways, winding pathways, angled corridors etc. I know it’s an RPG, and dungeon design tends to be hit-or-miss when you focus on storytelling and cinematics, but I found the exploration terribly bland.

There are other problems, too, the chief among which is that there’s just too much talking. Too much. People talk all the time. During the first two hours of the game, you even have people talking/bantering in the background while you’re in the midst of a tutorial. It felt really unfocused and annoying.

…and then we have the story. I just… I don’t know. I feel like most Final Fantasy stories, for the last 8 or so years, have been aimed at 15-year-olds. Type-0 feels like that, too. The writing is atrocious. It does that horrible Japanese anime thing where people stand around waxing philosophical and you have no idea what they’re talking about.

There’s absolutely no effort to make the player feel like a part of the world, at least judging from my brief experience with the first couple of hours. Early on, the game doesn’t even bother to explain just who these people are or what you’re listening to. It’s super annoying. It feels like someone just scribbled down a bunch of fancy dialogue and monologues with absolutely no storytelling goals in mind.

Update: Oh wait, there are gameplay design issues, too. You constantly run out of SP, and you have to “draw” it from the enemies you kill. Unfortunately, said enemies have way too much health and you have too little SP, so early on, you’re always running out of SP and being forced to resort to your weakest attacks, which barely do any damage.

Skeptika Crediblus

Aw man…. Maybe we’re better off not having it. I’d still liked to have decided for myself, but geez. :(

http://www.siliconera.com/ Ishaan

Well, I don’t want to sour anyone on the game, since I only managed to put up with it for two hours or so before deciding it wasn’t for me. Perhaps it gets better later on.

But yeah, personally speaking, I just don’t have the patience for games like Type-0 anymore…

k.b.a.

My first red flag went up when I saw square using the word action.

HarakiriKami

Imagine if you could switch weapons during combat

Gemlit

Wonder how many others were on the fence about Kingdom Hearts or Bravely Default before they came out. In any case those games wowed many fans. Therefore, shouldn’t we at least TRY to get hyped about it?

darke

People were wary, then pleasantly surprised by the result => Good thing.

People overhyped, then find it’s not as ridiculously good as expected => Bad thing.

They haven’t even shown any gameplay footage yet as far as I know, it’s better to actually get all hyped over things when there’s something more then a vivid imagination to go buy. :)

natchu96

As someone who sadly didn’t grow up with FF and hasn’t been a gamer quite as long as some, SE has not been very persuasive about their trustworthiness to me :/

I’m trying, but they gotta show us the goods before I’m convinced. All this text is not helping.

SetzerGabbiani

This is another case of describing the hell out of a game and showing us pictures, but not giving us video. I just want to officially confirm whether this is indeed SquareEnix’s Monster Hunter iteration (likely given several descriptions and the way equipment is handled) or it’s more like FFXII or XIV. The former will get my money faster than the latter.

Morningstar

As someone who likes and played both, I agree. This is falling under the “Show, Don’t Tell” catagory

http://natenayshun.tumblr.com/ Rikku Ishida

If its like anything like mh i hope Bahamut has multiple forms like Fatalis so the challenge will be amazing

how fight something that travels space and attacks from it? I’m curious of what version of it they will use and lol you make it sound like bahamut will be end game

http://natenayshun.tumblr.com/ Rikku Ishida

Oh no hahaha I like fighting ultra hard bosses and secret bosses (IM LOOKING AT YOU GRIM REAPER IN KH!) But I am no means a hardcore gamer. I just like variety, a ice cream palor if you will.

k.b.a.

Everyone calm down

Vash bane

O.O?

Vash bane

ah XD I see what you. I played a couple games where a bahamut was indeed sort of end boss (did like 1 dmg to it yet it mops the floor with you in a few minutes >.>)

http://natenayshun.tumblr.com/ Rikku Ishida

Its that sense of wanting to become stronger makes it badass. Like If this armor equipment didnt do the trick then I’ll find a better one to fence it off.

Virevolte

That sounds really great. Thanks for the article. Itadakimasu !

Vash bane

sounds very interesting now but im not jumping on any hype train just yet… I want to learn more first

ShawnOtakuSomething

My interest is piqued can we see a gameplay vid? SE?

HarakiriKami

Im really interested in how the combat works here as they stated you can use multiple weapons per class

eilegz

i really wish that this game push dual analog interface or better gameplay its hard to have 3d action games without those setup its 2014 now hopefully nintendo take notice and improve it for future portables

ShadowDivz

Im not gonna say im not interested, but i am gonna see im not hyped.
We’ve had a bumpy road S.E.
A real bumpy road…

J_Joestar

Sounds like the Summoner class might end up closer to the Conjurer class in BDFF?